Yesterday, Congress passed the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which continues the critical work of its predecessor, the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998. The Senate passed WIOA on June 25, 2014, with a vote of 95-3, and now that the House has passed it 415-6, WIOA is headed to President Obama’s desk to be signed into law, reauthorizing WIA for 6 more years.
Peter Callstrom, CEO, San Diego Workforce Partnership (SDWP), KRA Corporation client for the operation of the San Diego Metro Region One-Stop Career Centers—part of the American Job Center of California network—stated in a press release, “Passage of WIOA is a big victory for job seekers and employers. The new Act builds upon the success of the Workforce Investment Act and promises new efficiencies and the ability to innovate in order to meet the needs of our rapidly changing world.”
During the previous program year, WIA—funded through the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration—supported more than 12 million adult, dislocated, and youth jobseekers by providing the education and training services required for placement in jobs with sustainable wages and career-advancement opportunities.
Knowlton R. Atterbeary, President & CEO, KRA Corporation, reported, “The staff of our WIA-funded One Stops and AJCs, from California to Connecticut, are most likely doing a ‘victory dance’ right about now, as we all are, elated to learn that our mission of preparing jobseekers for today’s global economy and supplying employers with a trained and reliable workforce will continue to thrive.
The partnerships KRA has built with its clients and local employers will also continue to thrive, as we develop workers and strengthen communities in the regions we serve. KRA concurs with Peter Callstrom’s assessment that, ‘The passage of WIOA by both the House and Senate represents the benefits of a bicameral and bipartisan approach in addressing the nation’s need for a more modern workforce development system’, and fully supports the SDWP, and all our other clients, in fulfilling this national need.”
Dr. Boone’s 20+ years’ experience in the industry is extensive and her expertise in private-, public-, and non-profit sector workforce-services organizations is unparalleled, particularly in the Baltimore–Washington Metropolitan area.
